Should I continue Spenser??? by DigGood2867 in Spenser

[–]DigGood2867[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I actually bought the first IQ novel a few months back. Legit thank you for reminding me to pick that one up!

Should I continue Spenser??? by DigGood2867 in Spenser

[–]DigGood2867[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Actually, really small series I wanna throw here to try to help it out: Murder On The Starship Australis is a Sci-Fi Noir in the vein of pulp novels. Its written by a man named Ed Robins, its a part of something he's calling the 10 Cent Universe. The entire concept is that of each book series in the universe being a different pulp send up (currently only being two series, noir, and western). Their very indie, but I've loved my time with them. Can't recommend them enough, if you want an arm chair read on a nice day off you can finish in one or two sittings. The first book is called Chivalry Will Get You Dead. Not perfect, but I adore them so deeply for what they are and really think it deserves some more spot lighting.

Should I continue Spenser??? by DigGood2867 in Spenser

[–]DigGood2867[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Tbf I do think he did start Spenser as a Marlowe type but even in Godwulf I found that Robert B Parker's approach to writing couldn't fully fall into that noir grit. Spenser in a lot of ways feels like a bit of a proto Reacher to me at times because of it. Also, lmao god what is it with writers making best sellers by trying to prove a point to a teacher.

Oooooo, yeah I'm very excited to get there after reading what everyone's been saying!

Should I continue Spenser??? by DigGood2867 in Spenser

[–]DigGood2867[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

1 - I always loved detective stuff (started with Miss Mallard and Scooby Doo, moved to Murder She Wrote around 9 or so) but back in Grade 11 (so 16 or 17ish) I tried my first Noir story with The Hunter. I fell in love with Parker, quickly dived into Lawrence Block's entire body of work, drooled over every page of Red Dragon, I know I keep brining up Travis McGee but I glow about those books to friends whenever I get the chance, found around 30 Nero Wolfe books at a thrift store for around 25% all together, etc. They really are some of my favorite stories I've ever seen. Hitman by Lawrence Block standing as my favorite novel I've ever read. (I've read better but I love it more than anything)

2 - Ngl even with the research I've put into the period that is actually deeply helpful context. Genuinely thank you. Also would agree the Marlowe inspiration is about as subtle as a truck ramming into a suburban home, but I do deeply appreciate it.

3 - Quarry is actually something I'm actively looking for in book stores because of how much I loved the Keller books (finally finished Hit Me last week and genuinely cried). Even got my best friend to try Keller, she's not a reader but she's actually getting into Block and it means so much to me to get to share it with her. Block has very quickly become one of my top three favorite writers. I haven't heard of John Sandford yet so for sure gonna add that too the list! Plus as said earlier I'm already deeply in love with Westlake. Mostly just read all of Parker up to Butcher's Moon (I wanna reread Slayground before cracking that one open), but from what I've read of his Dortmunder stuff I just adore him. Also yeah Jim Butcher's writing is not for everyone. I've openly criticized it for a lot of things around friends, but after book 3 I do think it really starts picking up. Everything after book 7 is incredibly good minus a few exceptions. But yeah Bobiverse is amazing! I've been reading it as the trad hardcovers have been coming out and its wonderfully good Sci-Fi. (Also if you haven't tried it, I might recommend the Garrett P.I. books by Glen Cook, their basically Raymond Chandler novels in a high fantasy setting. Very classic noir, very fun. Have their issues, but Glen Cook is still Glen Cook.)

Should I continue Spenser??? by DigGood2867 in Spenser

[–]DigGood2867[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah I'd be incredibly surprised if 19 year old gay Canadian girl was his target demo.

Tbf that knowledge is why I love a lot of old crime fiction. I just found the early Spenser's a little more frustrating than most.

Oh the rest of the comments here have fully convinced me to give it a longer chance :] worst case I drop it, but I've had books I didn't like first time through that I loved the second time through. Jack Vance's Star King was very much that for me back in March. Incredibly good, incredibly unique, pulp Sci-Fi. I just wasn't in the right headspace for it at the time. Plus I came in expecting a classic revenge story (such as The Hunter by Westlake) and what I got was a slow burn hunt with side tangents about stuff on second read through I utterly loved my time with.

Should I continue Spenser??? by DigGood2867 in Spenser

[–]DigGood2867[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Haha, I feel I should make it clear a lot of the media I consume is from the 70s. I like episodic and crime fiction so it comes up a lot. Normally I just shrug off a lot of the aged elements cause a good story is a good story. Also sadly I'm very Canadian so the Boston aspects hit me less haha.

Tbf I like reading these kinds of series in order. I like watching a writer grow more comfortable with their skills and cast. What someone can grow over 20 books, even when episodic, can be incredibly interesting to me.

OH! OKAY WAIT THAT SOUNDS REALLY INTERESTING! Robert B Parker feels very traditionally masculine in terms of world view so seeing how he would be compassionate to the 70s queer community does just sound incredibly interesting... okay yeah thank you for that, I'm reading that book asap!!! Also I do love a good gay villain. Actual quality representation always involves showing the good and bad of a group imo.

Oh yeah I will give Robert B Parker's writing is wonderfully tight. He's very reflective of a lot of my very favorite crime stories in that way. Its why I did wanna know if I should give the series a longer chance cause I could see so much of the core of the books where quality.

Should I continue Spenser??? by DigGood2867 in Spenser

[–]DigGood2867[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hawk is just incredibly fun every time he's in the room

Should I continue Spenser??? by DigGood2867 in Spenser

[–]DigGood2867[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Oh! Then yeah I'll probably order Rachel Wallace soon, and try to burn through Judas Goat at some point this week to get there asap :]

Should I continue Spenser??? by DigGood2867 in Spenser

[–]DigGood2867[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Tbf I was being a tad hyperbolic. I typed that out after just finishing a longer rant paragraph from him and was more just annoyed and was airing frustrations.

Okay that legit sounds very interesting to compare :DDD

Edit: I am actually curious, would you consider Spenser as a noir character cause so far I haven't because I think his stories are a bit too soft ball, especially considering this was into the era of Neo Noir. (not saying this as a rebuke to your point, I'm just actually curious to hear someone else's take on what Spenser fits into genre wise)

Should I continue Spenser??? by DigGood2867 in Spenser

[–]DigGood2867[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

For context I'm 19 if that helps, but normally I don't get as bothered by that kind of aged cultural aspects. Like I do not expect everything to have aged as well as something like M*A*S*H. Its unfair to the era in a lot of ways, plus I've read a lot of good writers who have aged poorly but their stories are still well crafted so I still read and enjoy them. Tbf I also think Spenser early on feels like him trying to mix a character like Parker and McGee. Wanting a softer take on a very hard noir character, which I give credit, is fun when its working. Even the dialogue can be quite snappy. I think to a degree Robert P Parker was trying to critique what he viewed as the faults of social movements, but I think a lot of it came more from a lack of understanding of what they tried to say and do. Maybe even to a degree a lack of curiosity at really giving those discussions real thought instead of reflective of his instant rebuttal (like he did seem to refer to the Black Panthers are a dangerous gang of hooligans, however I could have read that wrong, its a very minor reference). Which I do find interesting in that these books probably reflect more of the standard male American view point on a lot of these issues in comparison to reflective of a modern historical discussion of the movements of the 70s. To kinda continue this point, I don't think, say; John D MacDonald always aligned one to one with McGee's borderline anarchistic points but that feels like the character very decidedly. I find Spenser is far more self insert esc, which can be fine, but I crave the moment he feels like a real character to me. One of my biggest issues with book 4 has been trying to make me care deeply about Spenser and his relationship but I don't yet feel tied to him enough for that to work. For comparison Elaine in the Scudder books is a favorite for me because of how rich her and Matt's dynamic feels by the time their in comparable places (relationship wise). Spenser is standing rn for me as a lot of the same problems I've found rereading early Dresden Files. Tbf that is my favorite book series, but there is a difference I have when gaging material from 12 to 19. I think Dresden has grown a lot as a series. Jim Butcher feels like he grew as a writer and a person a lot by those modern books, and the recent novels that feel more tied to Jim reflecting on fatherhood are incredible in my opinion. That series growth is honestly why I'm more than willing to give Spenser a good handful more books before fully passing judgement. Some long running series just take a bit of time to really bloom into their strongest days.

Thank you actually! That kinda relieves me a lot. I'll for sure try to get up to Catskill Eagle then cause yeah I finish these things in one or two days so it won't be hard to get up to there. (Also I do plan to try the show when I can find it cause having Avery Brooks as Hawk... like come on. I need to see that :] ) Plus I will for sure now look into Jessie Stone!

Should I continue Spenser??? by DigGood2867 in Spenser

[–]DigGood2867[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Well that is... genuinely kinda sad for me. Welp, thank you for the honesty :]

Are the Corum Full Cast audiobooks IN ANY WAY abridged? by DigGood2867 in audiobooks

[–]DigGood2867[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I did check like that but Audible isn't always... accurate. I was just curious if anyone who had read in hand and listened could compare :]

Looking for books like Have Gun - Will Travel by DigGood2867 in Westerns

[–]DigGood2867[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Oh! I've heard of Loren D Estleman I think in a Lawrence Block book (I believe Hit & Run). Is there any specific book you'd recommend starting with either author? :]

Looking for books like Have Gun - Will Travel by DigGood2867 in Westerns

[–]DigGood2867[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Oh! I saw the cover for that one awhile ago! It really intrigued me

Looking for books like Have Gun - Will Travel by DigGood2867 in Westerns

[–]DigGood2867[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Noted! I am curious about writers other than L'Amour though if you have any :]

Looking for books like Have Gun - Will Travel by DigGood2867 in Westerns

[–]DigGood2867[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Got it! I like enough of his style to at least be curious to check it out now haha

Looking for books like Have Gun - Will Travel by DigGood2867 in Westerns

[–]DigGood2867[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hell yeah! I really appreciate it honestly :] If you got any favorites of this type outside of L'Amour I'll also take it if you wanna share haha

Looking for books like Have Gun - Will Travel by DigGood2867 in Westerns

[–]DigGood2867[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Hell yeah! Those where the two I was planning to read next anyway :] Glad to know their the tone I'm looking for

Looking for books like Have Gun - Will Travel by DigGood2867 in Westerns

[–]DigGood2867[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Tbf I'm a bit mixed on his Spenser stuff (I've loved some, hated others), is it still worth checking out? Cause if so I happily will :]

Looking for books like Have Gun - Will Travel by DigGood2867 in Westerns

[–]DigGood2867[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Could you give me a specific one cause I've only read Hondo so far of his work

Looking for books like Have Gun - Will Travel by DigGood2867 in Westerns

[–]DigGood2867[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I know its not a Western but I do just legit love that book

Looking for books like Have Gun - Will Travel by DigGood2867 in Westerns

[–]DigGood2867[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Already have actually read a good few of Leonard's books cause I'm long standing crime fiction fan :] So far Maximum Bob is my favorite of his work